HC Deb 19 June 1974 vol 875 cc194-5W
Miss Quennell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the dwellings owned by his Department in London Road, Horndean, are Crown properties for rating purposes.

Mr. Kaufman

Yes. The Secretary of State, as Trustee for the Crown, is not liable to pay rates as such. However, in equity, he makes a payment equal to any rates for which he might be held liable if he were a private landlord, or, as is usually the case, he lets property at an "exclusive" rent on a standard tenancy agreement, under which the occupier is responsible for payment of all rates.

Miss Quennell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings are owned by his Department in the Petersfield constituency and occupied by his own staff.

Mr. Kaufman

Twenty-three properties have been acquired under planning blight provisions; none is occupied by Department of the Environment staff.